Otto Von Bismarck, the 19th-century Prussian chancellor who unified Germany, once reportedly remarked that “laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made”.

This week in Washington we were given an insight into the blood and guts of the entire political abattoir. Kevin McCarthy was the first speaker of the US Congress to be sacked by his colleagues on the floor of the House since the role was created in 1789.